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Hanoi, Vietnam
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How do we know herbal medicines are safe?
Many people rely on herbal and traditional medicines to support their health. But it's important to make sure these products contain what they say they do and are safe to use.
Recently, laboratory experts from Viet Nam and Lao People’s Democratic Republic came together to learn new techniques for testing herbal medicines. By strengthening laboratory skills and quality checks, they are helping make sure people can have greater confidence in the herbal products they use.
Good testing helps protect public health and supports the safe use of traditional medicine for generations to come.
Learn more: who.int/vietnam/news/detail/…
ALT Participants discuss analytical procedures with NIKOM experts during the TCIM laboratory training in September 2026. Credit: Viet Nam’s National Institute of Drug Quality Control
Celebrating a milestone for health security in Viet Nam! 🎉
Viet Nam is the first country in the Western Pacific Region to roll out training on the Strategic Toolkit for Assessing Risks Plus (STAR-Plus), helping strengthen preparedness for health emergencies, disease outbreaks and disasters.
This week, WHO and the Pasteur Institute in Nha Trang brought together participants from the health, animal health, environmental health, food safety, disaster management and public security sectors to a training of trainers on using the STAR-Plus tool to build multi-hazard risk profiles at national and subnational levels, including mapping of the right workforce for emergency response.
Building on a successful STAR workshop pilot in Da Nang in 2025, this training will build a national pool of STAR-Plus facilitators who will further strengthen preparedness and emergency readiness.
A special thank you to the Gates Foundation and the Institute of Philanthropy for their generous support, as well as colleagues from the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific, WHO Indonesia and our partners from the Peter Doherty Institute in Australia for their collaboration and expertise.
Together, we are helping build a safer, healthier and more resilient Viet Nam.
At the 77th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific in Manila this week, Viet Nam Vice Minister of Health Prof Dr Nguyen Thi Lien Huong said a healthy foundation is the foundation of a strong and prosperous nation. She highlighted Viet Nam’s progress in:
- Preventing disease before it starts, especially noncommunicable diseases such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes, and the importance of primary health care to meet people’s health needs.
- Protecting health through stronger tobacco control measures, including higher tobacco taxes and a ban on e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.
- Making health systems and health facilities better prepared for emergencies and the growing impacts of climate change.
The Vice Minister, attending the event with a delegation from Viet Nam’s Ministry of Health, also highlighted Viet Nam's progress in tackling noncommunicable diseases, as these conditions now account for an increasing burden in Viet Nam. This week in Manila, hypertension control, immunization, tobacco control and artificial intelligence are among the topics under discussion at #RC77.
Also this week, the Vice Minister thanked WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus for his visionary leadership and expressed appreciation for his strong drive to champion a country-centred approach. Dr Tedros’ term ends next year.
Every year at the Regional Committee, health leaders from Asia and the Pacific convene to discuss key health issues affecting almost 2.2 billion people across 38 countries and areas.
Learn more: who.int/.../gov.../regional-…
Photo credit: WHO / Edison Alcabasa
📷 Celebrating one year of partnership for safer roads for children in Viet Nam.
This week, WHO Viet Nam, AIP Foundation and partners marked the first anniversary of the Viet Nam Project 2000 Road Safety Partnership, a milestone reflecting the power of collaboration in protecting children and young people on Viet Nam's roads.
Over the past year, partners from Government, civil society, international development partners, academia and the private sector have come together around a shared vision: a Viet Nam where no child or young person is killed or seriously injured in a road crash.
At a ceremony in Ha Noi, the Partnership formally welcomed three new members:
✅ The Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP)
✅ Honda Viet Nam
✅ Volvo Car Vietnam
As the Partnership continues to grow, so does its collective ability to accelerate action on proven road safety measures including improved motorcycle safety, certified helmets for children, supporting the introduction and use of child restraint systems in vehicles, and promoting safer speeds and improved infrastructure around schools.
WHO Viet Nam thanks all partners for their commitment, collaboration, and action over the past year. Together, we are building momentum and strengthening collective action for a safer future for Viet Nam's children and young people.
#RoadSafety #ChildRoadSafety #VietNam #Project2000 #Partnership #SafeJourneysForChildren
Tobacco industry tactics: new products, old strategies.
For decades, the #tobacco industry has used misleading claims to downplay the dangers of its products and protect profits.
From marketing cigarettes as “light” or “mild” to promoting filters as a way to reduce harm, the industry has repeatedly tried to make harmful products appear less dangerous than they are.
Industry new products and claims of technological innovation continue to shape how tobacco and nicotine products are marketed. But new technology does not mean safer products, and tobacco-free does not mean risk-free.
All forms of tobacco and #nicotine use are harmful, and nicotine is highly addictive no matter what forms they come in or level of exposure. The industry’s commercial interests are fundamentally incompatible with public health.
Public health, for the sake of current and future generations, in Viet Nam and all countries, must come before industry profits. Policies must be guided by scientific evidence from reputable sources, protect people from misleading marketing and prevent the next generation from becoming addicted to all tobacco and nicotine products.
#TobaccoExposed
ALT Tobacco industry lies. New technology does not mean safer products, and tobacco-free does not mean risk-free. The industry’s commercial interests are fundamentally incompatible with public health. Policies must be guided by scientific evidence from reputable sources. All forms of tobacco and nicotine use are harmful. Protect people from misleading marketing.
At a time when infectious disease threats are becoming more complex, Government leaders, scientists, researchers and partners gathered yesterday at the National Scientific Conference on Infectious Diseases to share knowledge and explore solutions for the challenges ahead.
World Health Organization Representative in Viet Nam Dr Angela Pratt highlighted the importance of science, innovation and collaboration in responding to growing health threats including:
-New diseases or diseases that have returned after being under control
-Antimicrobial resistance (which makes diseases harder to prevent and treat) and
-Climate change.
Dr Pratt commended Viet Nam for building a strong foundation for health security through high vaccination coverage, extensive surveillance and laboratory networks, and high social health insurance coverage.
The conference, hosted by the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases, also explored how climate change is reshaping infectious disease risks – and how new technologies, including AI, can strengthen disease preparedness and response.
Read Dr Pratt’s speech here: who.int/.../speech-of-dr-ang…...
Photo credit: National Hospital for Tropical Diseases
From evidence to policies, to actions, tackling air pollution requires coordination and collaboration across sectors and communities.
Yesterday, Government agencies, scientists, researchers, development partners and international experts came together at the Second National Conference on Air pollution, with the theme this year of Combating Air Pollution and Improving Air Quality in Viet Nam: Turning Policy into Action”
Speaking at the conference, alongside UNDP Resident Representative Ramla Khalidi, WHO Representative in Viet Nam Dr Angela Pratt highlighted that Viet Nam has stronger policies, clearer targets and greater momentum than ever before. They are supported by new technologies that are creating opportunities to better identify pollution sources, improve forecasting and support targeted action.
“Progress is possible – and within a relatively short space of time,” Dr Pratt said,
With experiences and insights shared from experts from Viet Nam and other countries, as well as WHO’s Asia-Pacific Centre for Environment and Health in the Western Pacific Region (ACE), Dr Pratt reaffirmed WHO’s commitment to working with the Government and partners to support bluer skies, cleaner air and a healthier Viet Nam.
The conference was jointly organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the Ministry of Health, UNDP and WHO with much appreciated support provided through the partnership between the WHO Foundation and the Prudence Foundation, and the support from the Clean Air Fund and Clean Air Asia, which contributed to making this event possible.
Ha Noi’s beautiful autumn also marks the seasonal return of air pollution.
As we enter the cooler months, poor air quality is more than an environmental issue. It is a public health and economic challenge affecting millions of people.
Viet Nam has made important commitments to improve air quality. Its National Action Plan for 2026–2030 aims for at least 80% of days each year to achieve air quality ratings in the good or moderate range under the national air quality standard. The next step is turning these commitments into concrete action that protects health, improves lives and supports a greener economy.
Here, WHO Representative Dr Angela Pratt and UNDP Resident Representative Ms Ramla Khalidi, share their perspectives on how Viet Nam can accelerate action across sectors: vietnam.vn/en/o-nhiem-khong-…
🐶❤️ Meet Phung Thi Phuong and Na.
When Ms Phuong's family welcomed Na home as a puppy, they made a commitment to look after her properly. That meant regular care, recommended vaccinations ( including for rabies) and keeping Na safe and healthy, just like any other member of the family.
"She is not really a pet to us anymore. She is a family member," says Ms Phuong.
This World Rabies Day, Na's story is a reminder that responsible dog ownership is one of the best ways to protect the people and animals we love. After all, when our dogs are family, keeping them vaccinated is just part of caring for them. 🐾💙
Read more about Phuong and Na's story here: who.int/vietnam/news/feature…
#WorldRabiesDay #StrongerTogether
ALT Ms Phuong and her beloved Na at home
A dog bite could have ended in tragedy, but quick action made all the difference.
When university student Hung was bitten by a dog, he immediately washed the wound and sought rabies treatment.
This World Rabies Day, remember: If you are bitten, scratched - or licked on broken skin - by a dog or cat, don't wait. Prompt treatment saves lives. 🐶💙
Read Hung's story here: who.int/.../quick-action-aft…...
#WorldRabiesDay2026 #StrongerTogether #ChungTayDayLuiBenhDai #OneHealth #WHOVietNam
WHO is proud to work with partners and donors to help Viet Nam strengthen health services, prevent disease and protect communities across the country. Some of Viet Nam’s recent achievements include:
✅ 10 million people screened for hypertension and diabetes, with more than 2 million people receiving treatment, helping improve access to quality care closer to home.
✅ International recognition for Viet Nam’s strong progress in tobacco control, including the ban on e-cigarette and heated tobacco product ban.
✅ Rapid emergency support that helped deliver life-saving medicines, including botulism antitoxin and critical malaria treatment, when patients needed them most.
✅ More than 5.8 million children received survival swimming lessons between 2021 and 2024, contributing to a 20% reduction in child drowning deaths between 2020 and 2025.
✅ Continued work on immunization, malaria elimination, road safety – especially for children, nutrition, a climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable health system, and cleaner air.
Together, we can continue building a healthier and safer future!
Read more who.int/vietnam/news/feature…
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Recently at the Safe Helmets for Asia Pacific (SHAP) Summit in Ha Noi, the World Health Organization called for stronger action to protect lives on the roads.
Every minute, someone dies in a road crash across the South‑East Asia and Western Pacific Regions. But most of these 630,000 deaths a year - many of them among children and young people - are entirely preventable.
A quality helmet, worn correctly, can save a life. But to make that happen, we need strong standards and strict testing, removal of fake and substandard helmets, and mandatory helmet use for everyone, including children.
Viet Nam has already shown what is possible: the 2007 helmet law saved around 2,200 lives in its first year alone. Now is the time to protect and build on that achievement.
WHO is committed to working with the Government and partners to ensure every child and every family is safe on the road.
Read the speech by WHO Representative in Viet Nam Dr Angela Pratt here: who.int/.../speech-of-dr-ang…...
An estimated 18 million people in Viet Nam live with high blood pressure - and many people don't know they have it. Left unmanaged, it greatly increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure and early death. Millions more people live with other noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) – the biggest causes of death in Viet Nam.
Safe care for NCDs is the theme of World Patient Safety Day 2026.
So, today, pledge to:
-Take up opportunities to prevent disease. Participate in recommended screening, check-ups and preventive care, and seek help early if you notice warning signs.
-Keep track of your treatment and medicines. Follow safety practices such as double-checking your medications and taking prescribed doses at the right time. Know when to seek help.
-Be an active partner in your care. Ask questions and speak up if something isn’t clear.
Read how WHO has worked in close partnership with Viet Nam's Ministry of Health and partner Resolve To Save Lives to support a hypertension programme that screens 10 million people every year, and helps them access regular treatment and manage their blood pressure: who.int/.../strengthened-gra…...
#WorldPatientSafetyDay #NgàyAnToànNgườiBệnhThếGiới #WHOVietNam
#ClimateChange is already affecting our health - and some communities feel it more than others.
Here in Viet Nam, for example, warmer temperatures and changing rainfall patterns are creating better conditions for mosquitoes to breed - exposing more people to dengue.
A consultation meeting on climate change and climate-sensitive diseases, co-hosted by WHO and the Viet Nam Administration of Disease Prevention (VADP), Ministry of Health, highlighted how WHO is working with the Government to strengthen the evidence needed to anticipate, prepare for and respond to these threats.
A new national review that brings together data on both infectious diseases and noncommunicable diseases was introduced - believed to be the first time Viet Nam has looked at climate impacts across this full range of health risks.
With strong data and advanced technology, Viet Nam can shift from reacting to outbreaks to preventing them - better protecting communities and building a healthier future in a changing climate.
WHO is grateful to be part of this innovative partnership with @WHOFoundation and Prudence Foundation, working together to strengthen the resilience of health systems and communities to the impacts of climate change.
🔗 Read meeting remarks here from Dr Angela Pratt, WHO Representative in Viet Nam: who.int/vietnam/news/speeche…
Let's celebrate the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies.
This year’s focus is on the clear economic case for integrated climate and clean air action in support of healthier populations and economic prosperity. Twenty-five proven solutions across energy, industry, transport, agriculture, cooking and waste could avoid 144 million premature deaths worldwide by 2050.
The Government of Viet Nam is committed to tackling air pollution at its source with actions such as accelerating clean energy, improving public transport and addressing waste burning.
However, clean air is a shared responsibility. Government, businesses, communities and individuals all have a role to play in protecting the air we breathe, our health, our economy and our future for current and future generations.
@WHO and @UNDPVietNam are honoured to support Viet Nam in this journey! Follow us for updates on our joint activities! #CleanAirDay
ALT Two people stand against a blue sky with white clouds. Text: International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies. Keeping the air clean is everyone's responsibility.
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The Government has set a clear direction: shifting from a focus of treating disease to a greater focus on preventing it.
A healthy diet – low in salt, sugar, fat and ultra‑processed foods – is essential to reducing noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer, and other major health risks.
Recently, WHO and partners met to support the Government’s actions to prevent NCDs.
To empower consumers and protect children, WHO recommends measures that include:
- Front‑of‑pack nutrition warning labels that help people choose healthier foods and encourage industry to reformulate them.
- Stronger protections from unhealthy food marketing to children, which shapes eating habits that last a lifetime.
📖 To find out more on the importance of these measures, read a recent speech from WHO Representative in Viet Nam Dr Angela Pratt: who.int/vietnam/news/speeche…
🤝 UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health
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Diet plays a critical role in shaping our health and well-being, and unhealthy diets are a major risk factor for the leading causes of illness and death.
This was a key message from WHO Representative in Viet Nam Dr Angela Pratt at a workshop today to provide information on salt reduction and solutions to promote healthy diets.
The media play an important role in promoting a healthy diet, better nutrition and therefore improving people’s health. Journalists can help share evidence-based facts, create opportunities to discuss health issues and shape people's understanding of important topics – such as:
📌 Healthy diets and active lifestyles: why it is important to reduce salt, sugary drinks, and ultra-processed foods – and eat more fruit and vegetables, and get more exercise.
📌 Front-of-package nutrition warning labels: How they can help shoppers choose healthier food and encourage companies to make healthier products.
📌 Protecting children: Why protecting children from aggressive marketing of unhealthy foods can help protect them from harmful diets.
Together, we can help build a healthier food environment and support Viet Nam’s commitment to preventing noncommunicable diseases.
📖 Read more here in Dr Pratt’s speech: who.int/.../speech-of-dr-ang…...
🤝 We sincerely thank Viet Nam Administration of Disease Prevention (VADP), Hanoi University of Public Health (HUPH), HealthBridge Viet Nam… for the great collaboration on this important workshop!
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💓🚗 Let’s keep children safe in cars.
Did you know that securing your child in a child car seat protects them from injury or death if you’re involved in a crash?
That’s why from 1 July this year, the Government has required children under 10 and below 135 cm tall to be in a child restraint system when they ride in private cars.
Recently, at a Workshop on Child Restraint Systems, held by Hanoi University of Public Health supported by the Bloomberg Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS), WHO Viet Nam joined representatives of public health, traffic safety management agencies, international organizations and businesses to enhance efforts to implement the new law aimed at protecting and saving the lives of children on the roads in Viet Nam.
Child seats save lives - not just on long trips, but on the everyday ones we barely think about. A properly used CRS can be the difference between a close call and a tragedy.
👉 Read about one mother’s journey to safer car trips in the comments.
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WHO Representative in Viet Nam Dr Angela Pratt was honoured recently to meet with Minister of Health Madame Dao Hong Lan to discuss key public health priorities.
Dr Pratt commended Minister Lan and the Government of Viet Nam for their health vision and ambition, including their focus on enhancing disease prevention, strengthening grassroots health care and tracking progress through the National Target Programme on Health Care, Population and Development.
On infectious diseases, Dr Pratt acknowledged Viet Nam’s enormous progress in reducing the burden of malaria, which the country has the potential to eliminate soon. She also encouraged the Ministry to continue their vigilant monitoring of the spread of diseases, and closing any gaps in immunization.
Dr Pratt pledged WHO’s continued strong support for the Government’s health priorities, including the upcoming revisions to the Tobacco Control Law and Food Safety Law, that both aim to better protect community members of all ages.
“WHO is honored to accompany Viet Nam on its health‑reform journey and committed to continuing to work side‑by‑side to strengthen health outcomes and deliver lasting benefits for the people of Viet Nam,” Dr Pratt said.
Group photo source: Báo Sức khỏe Đời sống - Trần Minh
#HealthForAll #WHOinVietNam #PrimaryHealthCare
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Viet Nam is turning the tide on child drowning! 🌊
Heroes like Mai Van Chuyen in Dak Lak Province are offering free swimming lessons and water safety skills to children in rural communities.
Thanks to programmes on survival swimming, water safety education, communication campaigns and community‑based interventions all around the country, Viet Nam is saving lives.
📘 5.8 million children aged 6–16 had swimming lessons from 2021 to 2024.
📉Child drowning deaths dropped by more than 20% from 2020 to 2025.
Together, we can keep every child safe. 🙌👦🌊
Read the media release here: who.int/vietnam/news/detail/…
@WHOWPRO
#WorldDrowningPreventionDay #DrowningPrevention #VietNam